Handbag frame



April'22, 1941. e. LAUBENSTEIN 2,239,548

HANDBAG FRAME Filed Aug. 24, 1938 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 22, 1941 HANDBAG FRAMQE George Laubenstein, Madison, N. .L, assignor to The J. E. Mergott Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application August 24, 1938, Serial No. 226,435

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to handbags and more particularly to frames for such handbags and to constructions and methods of assembling such frames for single or double handbags at the option of the handbag manufacturer.

In my copending application, Ser. No. 213,742, filed June 15, 1938, for Handbag frames and methods of assembling the same, I have referred to the fact that in the manufacture of double handbags a problem is presented because two frames are necessary, one for the outer or main handbag and a second for the inner pocket book or purse. It is difficult to ship, assemble and cover double handbag frames and it is expensive to carry the necessary double frames for such handbags in stock. In my said application I have disclosed one construction and method of assembling inner and outer handbag frames so that single or double bags can be made at the option of the manufacturer, said construction including an assembly means whereby the inner and outer frames may be quickly and easily assembled together without the use of tools by the bag manufacturer.

In my application executed on even date herewith, Ser. No. 226,436, filed Aug. 24, 1938, for Handbag frames and methods of assembling the same, I have described and shown other new and improved means for uniting inner and outer frames of double handbags.

It is a purpose of this invention to make standard size assembly means or uniting members available for uniting inner and outer frames of different structure or of different size. In said application, Ser. No. 226,436, executed on even date herewith, I have shown a frame having a U-shaped cross section, with the space for inserting and clamping in handbag material adjacent the outer edge. In this application a handbag frame is shown which is of U-shaped cross section but which has the space for clamping in handbag material along the inner margin thereof.

It is a feature of this invention that an adapter means is combined with a uniting member to afford assembling means for uniting the inner and outer frames of double handbags. For example, a uniting member suitable for unitin an inner purse frame with an outer or main handbag frame of the character shown in my said application, Ser. outer frame of the character shown in this application which has a different hinge location by the use of" an adapter. By this means the manufacturer can be furnished with a single type of unita ing member and can use this member with dif- No. 226,436, may be used with an ferent types of handbag frames by using adapter means when necessary in conjunction with the uniting member in assembling the inner and outer handbag frames together.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects and features as may hereinafter appear this invention consists in the assembly, construction, combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof andtwhich shows merely for the purpose of illustrative disclosure several embodiments of my invention, it being expressly understood, however, that various changes may be made in practice within the scope of the claims without digressing from my inventive idea.

In the drawing in which similar reference characters denote corresponding parts Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an outer handbag frame and an inner purse frame and associated parts embodying my invention assembled to form a double bag.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational detail view partly in vertical section of one end of two assembled frames showing the relationship of the said frames adjacent the hinges and the connecting parts when so assembled.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the uniting means assembly with the parts in spaced relationship.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational View of a modified form of assembly means according to this invention.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view showing a portion of the inner'and outer frames and illustrating a modified form of assembly means embodying this invention.

Fig. 6 is a detail view'taken on the line 6-8 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 there is shown an, outer or main handbag frame indicated generally by the reference character I El and an inner or smaller purse frame indicated generally by the reference character H, both of said frames in this particular embodiment being substantially U-shaped. Such frames may be of standard construction. In the embodiment shown the outer frame It! comprises two separate members I0 and W having channeled or U-shaped cross sections with the space for uniting and clamping in handbag material along the inner side thereof. The legs Hi and I0 of said members are suitably hinged together, the lower end of said legs Hi and I0 of each of these members being provided respectively with ears l2 and I3 which are joined together by a hollow rivet I4 or the like so that the two members I and Ill are hinged together and may be rotated towards or away from each other to close or open the bag.

The inner frame I I is shown as comprising two U-shaped. members II and II having channeled or tubular cross sections and whose legs and II at their lower ends are provided with ears 4| and 42 respectively, adjacent ears being adapted to overlap each other and to be pivotally con-' nected by eyelets or hollow rivets 24 or the like so that the two members II and II are hinged together and may be rotated toward or away from each other to close or open the inner pocket book or purse. The customary latching members 40 are provided on the inner frame members and likewise may, if desired, be provided on the outer frame members.

As shown in Fig. 1 the inner frame I I has substantially smaller overall dimensions than the outer frame I0 so that it will lie wholly within the completed outer bag when assembled with the outer frame.

For assembly purposes I provide the adapter piece I5 which is in the form of a strip of sheet metal bent into triangular loop form with protruding narrowed pin-shaped parts I6 which parts are adapted to be inserted through the hollow rivet I4 at the hinge of the members III and I 0 of the outer frame. The pin-shaped parts I6 contain a recess I! so that the lips I8 of a slotted ball I9 may snap into engagement therewith and prevent the withdrawal of the pin part I6 from the hollow rivet I4,

In addition to the adapter l5 the assembly means includes the uniting member which is indicated generally by the reference character 2|. This uniting member includes the pin 22 protruding from the shoulder portion 23 of the uniting member 2|. The pin 22 is adapted to be inserted through the hollow rivet 24 at the hinge of the inner frame and after insertion may be given a head 25 adapted to prevent the withdrawal of the pin from the hollow rivet 24. The uniting member 2| includes the arms 26 and 26 with the slot 26 therebetween. The uniting member 2| is preferably made of sheet metal and the use of a resilient metal such as spring steel is to be preferred. At the end of the arms 26 and 26' are looking or key lugs 21 and 21'.

In the face of the adapter part I5 which is opposite the pin I6 is a slot 28 which is approximately as wide as the thickness of the sheet metal used in making the uniting member 2| and which is of somewhat lesser length than the normal spacing of the outer surfaces of the locking lugs 21 and 21. By pressing the locking lugs 21 and 21 into the slot 28 the arms 26 and 26 are temporarily moved from their normal position and tend to snap back to their normal position after the key lugs have been inserted through the slot 28 due to the resiliency of the arms 26 and 25'. In this way the uniting member 2| can be snapped into the adapter 45 and secured thereto.

In practice the frames III and II and the assembly parts I5, IQ and 2! may be shipped in unassembled relation to the handbag manufacturer by the frame manufacturer and the former either utilizes one or the other of the frames alone for single handbags or may assemble an outer and inner frame for making a double handbag as follows:

The pin 22 of the uniting member 2| is inserted in the hollow rivet 24 until the end thereof projects on the opposite side of the rivets. The ends of the pins may then be headed so as to prevent the pins from being withdrawn from the hollow rivets. Any other suitable means may also be employed for preventing withdrawal of the pins from the hollow rivets. The pin parts I6 are inserted in the hollow rivets I4 and the look balls I9 are placed over the end thereof so as to prevent withdrawal of these pins from the hollow rivets I4. The outer frame II] and the inner ,frame II are then covered with bag covering materials A and B indicated in Fig. 1. The covered inner frame is then assembled with the covered outer frame by snapping the locking lugs 21 and 2? of uniting member 2| into the opening 28 of the adapter I5. After this has been done the inner and outer frames are interconnected and the double bag is ready for use.

In Fig. 4 the parts are identical with the parts shown and described hereinabove in Figs. 1 to 3 except that both ends of the uniting member are provided with resiliently mounted locking lug means for maintaining the uniting member in place. In this figure the uniting member is referred to generally by the reference character 29, The uniting member includes arms 26, 26 and locking lugs 21, 2'! as hereinabove described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3. At the opposite end of the uniting member 29 are the arms 30 and 30 at the end of which are mounted locking lugs 3| and 3|. In this modification the locking lugs are shown as being passed through the hollow rivet 24 of the hinge of the inner frame, the locking lugs being prevented from removal from the hollow rivet due to the resiliency of arms 30 and 3G in the same way that the locking lugs 27 and 21 are prevented from being withdrawn from the openings 28 in the adapter I5.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the inner and outer frames are maintained in assembled relation by an opposed pair of adapters of the character described above. One adapter I5 of the construction men- :tioned above is used and includes the pin parts I6 which extend through the hollow rivet I4.

Another adapter I5 is likewise used having pin parts It extending through the hollow rivet 24. In this modification one of the adapters I5 or I 5 may be regarded as a uniting member so that the assembly means is to be regarded as including a uniting member and an adapter. The face of the adapter I5 which is opposite the pin parts I6 has an opening 32 therein and an upturned lug 33 protrudes from the surface thereof. The adapter part I5 has a corresponding opening and lug, the lug in the adapter I5 being adapted to pass through the opening in adapter I5 and the lug in the adapter I5 being adapted to pass through the opening in adapter I5.

In assembling the bag using assembly means shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the inner and outer frames and assembly means may be shipped separately. The adapter I5 may be attached to the outer frame and the adapter I 5' may be attached to the inner frame. The inner and outer frames may then be covered. When it is desired to mount the inner frame within the outer frame in assembled relation the legs of the inner frame can be bent inwardly against the normal resiliency of the metal in this frame so as to permit the opposed faces of adapters I5 and I5 to come into juxtaposition and by then releasing the legs of the inner frame. The lugs of the adapters will penetrate the openings registering with the lugs and the resiliency of the metal of the inner device is afforded for readily uniting a variety of inner and outer bag frames together. The uniting members and adapters can be made up and shipped separately and these parts can be made by the simple operation of stamping sheet metal. Whenever required the adapters can be used in assembling double handbags. The adapter can, of course, be made in any size and shape that is regarded as desirable. Moreover, the adapter or the uniting member can be connected to either of the frames and either the adapter or the unit ing member or both can be connectednot only to the hinge parts of the inner and outer frames, but also to other parts of the frames or frame legs as shown, for example, in my said application Serial No. 226,436, executed by me on even date herewith.

It is to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the exact means and methods described and that various other modifications and changes in construction and shape of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Assembly device of the character described including an adapter comprising a piece of sheet metal having a triangular loop-form and a pin part integral with said piece and extending from one of the apices thereof substantially normal to the face opposite said one of said apices and having an opening in said face thereof opposite to said pin part and a unitary member. presenting a lug part adapted to be inserted within said opening.

2. Assembly device of the character described including an adapter comprising a piece of sheet metal having a triangular loop-form and a pin part integral with said piece and extending from one of the apices thereof substantially normal to the face opposite said one of said apices and having an opening in said face thereof opposite tosaid pin part and a unitary member presenting a locking lug part adapted to be inserted within said opening to prevent said uniting member from being withdrawn from said opening.

3. Assembly device for uniting separate elements including an adapter comprising a strip member having triangular loop form with the opposite ends of said strip having pin-shaped parts projecting coextensively in abutting relationship at one of the apices of said loop and substantially normal to the face of said loop opposite said one of said apices, said strip also having an opening in said face thereof opposite to said pin shaped parts, and a unitary member presenting a lug part adapted to be inserted within said opening, said projecting pin parts serving to mount said adapter to one of said separate elements. I

4. In a device as per claim 3, in which said unitary member has a pivot pin at one end adapted to be rotatably borne on the other of said separate elements than that on which said adapter is mounted.

5. In a device as per claim 3, in which said unitary member has a pair of arms terminating in looking lugs adapted to be inserted in an opening in the other of said elements from that on which said adapter is mounted and requiring the bending of at least one of said elements in order to remove said locking lug from said open ing.

6. In a device as per claim 3, in which said unitary member has identical construction as said adapter, and whose pinparts serve to mount the said member to the other of said elements than that from which said adapter is mounted.

'7. Assembly device for uniting separate elements including an adapter comprising a strip having loop form with the opposite ends of said strip each having an integral pin shaped part provided with a recess, said pin-shaped parts projecting laterally from and coextensively in abutting relationship from the perimeter of said loop and adapted to be mounted on one of said elements, a locking member adapted to be attached to said parts and retained in the recesses thereof after the mounting of said parts on said one of said elements, the said strip also having an opening opposite the said parts, and a unitary member presenting a lug part adapted to be inserted within said opening, said unitary member having a member adapted to be carried on the other of said elements.

GEORGE LAUBENSTEIN. 

